"What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, and more unashamed conversation." Glenn Close The Rotary International President for the Rotary year 2023-24, Gordon McInally introduced an new initiative to remove the stigma of discussing Mental Health, raising awareness about Mental Health issues and increasing access to preventative care and treatment.
Suffern Rotary Club heeded this call and assembled a committee of our members with a Mental Health vocation to address this call to service. Our committee decided to develop four evening presentations throughout the year for our members & community on various mental health topics. Our first MHI presentation addressed Post-Traumatic Stress, the second Depression and the third Navigating Abusive Relationships. There is a presentation in the works on the Mind-Body Connection. The presenters have been our club members, local professionals and local non-profit associations that provide support for those affected by stress, hardship or a mental health issue. At the presentation a donation jar is available for a collection for the resource organization.
Our distinguished speakers have included psychologists, LMSWs, and a commercial pilot trained in identifying PTSD. To name specifically some of our speakers: Dr. Renee Exelbert, a licensed psychologist, certified trainer and author; Shari Reffsin, a Certified Financial Planner and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst; Lisa Estrin, Jessica Bass, Erin Hines and Alexis Andrade, Licensed Master Social Workers.
Our resource organizations have included BRIDGES, The Frawley Outpatient Mental Health Clinic at Good Samaritan Hospital and United Women of Rockland.
To quote RI President 2023-24 Gordon MacInally ; Rotary is uniquely positioned to make a global impact on this effort and I hope you will join in showing this new level of care to each other-and to ourselves."
If you have interest in being a speaker at one of our mental health community presentations please contact suffernrotarypresident@gmail.com with your interest.